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Once in a Blue Halloween Moon!

A personal campaign sponsored by Christina Salem in memory of Sydney

October 31, 2020

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A "Blue moon" is the second full moon of the month. It is a rare event, which the phrase that we use when we are talking about something that happens so rarely, "Once in a Blue moon" is derived from.  A Blue moon that happens on Halloween however, is even rarer! It is so rare, that it is only known to happen every 19 years!  

This year, on Halloween, October 31, 2020, a Blue moon will rise in our night sky! The last time there was a Blue Moon on Halloween was 19 years ago, October 31, 2001. On that rare and gorgeous Blue Moon evening, I went into labor with my daughter Sydney...

I gave birth to Sydney the next morning, November 1st, 2001. Little did we know, that we would then be facing an even rarer and most devastating event in our lives. Shortly after her birth, Sydney was diagnosed with Systemic Juvenile Xanthogranuloma, or JXG. JXG is one of the rarest forms, of the very rare, Histiocytic Disorders. Histiocytic disorders are a group of diseases that occur when there is an over-production of white blood cells known as histiocytes that can lead to organ damage and tumor formation. This group is made up of a wide variety of conditions that can affect both children and adults. JXG is normally considered a "benign" disorder usually limited to effecting the skin. In Sydney's case, however, the disease was systemic, making it even rarer yet, attacking her vital organs, effecting only 1 in 100 million people.

As rare as all of our journey of joy and pain was, it didn't compare to the rare, and beautiful soul of our daughter Sydney. This tiny new being, was our brave warrior who fought so hard through her short, and remarkable life. Throughout her life in the month of November that year, we were back and forth from the hospital, to home, and back to the hospital where she endured so much, including chemotherapy, to try to save her life. Despite her valiant efforts, Sydney lost her battle and died in our arms on November 29, 2001.

In the earlier years after Sydney's death, as many of you may remember, we used to hold fundraisers in her memory, for Histiocytosis Association, and called it "Once in a Blue Moon" as it was significant for these reasons. So I find it most appropriate this year, with the Blue Halloween moon happening 19 years later, to do it again! Please join me for my online fundraiser "Once in a Blue Halloween Moon", in helping raise critical funds for the HA! 

From October 1st thru October 31st, 2020, I am asking that you donate to the HA in any amount you are able! Upon your donation, you will be eligible for a photo contest to round up this fundraising event, to honor the Blue moon event and Sydney's 19th birthday. On October 31st, please take a photo of the blue moon sky(in any way you would like to create) and send to me by email at: christina.salem@yahoo.com, or by texting me. On November 1, Sydney's birthday, we will announce the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of the photo contest and those winners will be sent prize gifts in our appreciation and gratitude!

Please send out to your family and friends, and feel free to put on any social media platform you may use. I will send out reminders throughout the month of October and then on Halloween to take and submit your photo to all who donate! I will consider all photo entries sent up until 9:32 AM November 1st, when the judging will take place and winners announced shortly after that same day. 

Please join me in celebration of this rare celestial event, that coincides with Sydney's 19th Birthday, by donating in her memory to the HAA! While the search for more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure continues, the Histiocytosis Association is dedicated to supporting and empowering the patients and families who live with these devastating diseases every day.

Thank you for supporting me, and the Histiocytosis Association!


Christina Salem

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